You decide on the course of action - while the idea is worthy of pursuing it, it is not a time for true colonization. Instead, teachers and preachers will be sent to educate the nomadic groups in the Kastorian ways and sway them over, paving way for settlements later on.
The noblemen nod and murmur in agreement to this.
442 AEC, Midsummer
1
It seems that mermaids are as stealthy as they're crafty; they avoid appearing near larger vessels, while few smaller ones have disappeared, only to be found as shipwrecked or beached, their decks drity with bloodstains and the crews missing.
6*
Your proclamation had quite an effect! Those who worshipped the mermaids not really truthfully quickly decided that their tongues and coin pouches are more valuable to them than some fishgirls in the ocean.
Except those few dozen that were caught and unrepentant - now they are homeless, wandering the streets along the mute ex-blasphemers who have bloody stumps instead of tongues. All in all, less than a hundred of people were punished for their heresy.
422 AEC, Autumn
A report arrives from the north - a mighty fire is consuming the southern edges of the Forest of the Ancestors. The ancient oaks and tall spruces burn splendidly, the smell of burnt resin and ash fills the air, irritating anyone dwelling near the flames. Your men are conducting 'arson parties' in large groups, but since the burnination began, the number of Fai caught (and people disappearing) have been greatly reduced. Those areas that already have burnt to the ground are scoured for corpses, but its hard to determine if that or this heap of ash, charcoal and bone was a murderous Fai or a hapless forest animal caught in the blaze.
Meanwhile, the prettyfying of your palace is coming along nicely. The statue of your dear wife now stands in the garden, while the throne room and main corridors of the keep are decorated with hanging cloth, depicting either Kastorian coat of arms or images of you or your grandfather and founder of the dynasty, Lycwl the First. The local clothiers sure did their best with those tapestries.
It makes the place more colorful and more lively. And you have to agree that the statue in the garden only makes it look grandier. Your wife is especially happy and thinks this is the best image of hers that one could make.
Mayhaps aesthetics isn't that bad of a thing?
A) Let's decorate a little bit more to awe the visitors with beauty and wealth of Kastoria!
B) We're done with aesthetics, though. It's waste of money, at best!